The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-08-05
Alfscellal1eptts.
The Maryland Democratic Platform.

AN UNEQUIvoCAL DECLARATION OF SOUND
PRINCIPLES.
The Democratic party In Maryland, acting
by its accredited representatives, in full con.
vention assembled to nominate chief officers
of State, renews its fealty to the fundamental
principles and traditions of Its founders, and
declares
First That the people of the whole coun.
try are to be congratulated that the executive
control of the federal government after q
shameless misrule of almost quarter of a
century by the Republican party, has again
been placed in the hands of that party whose
cardinal doctrines are the equality of all cii-
zens of the republic before the law; the main
tenance of the reserved rights of the States
and of the people thereof; the supremacy of
the federal government within the limits of
the constitution, and an unyeldiDg determi-
nation to keep inviolate the political, per-
tonal and property rights of the citizen.
Second. That the administration of Grover
Cleveland has kept the faith of the Demo.
cratic party of the Union. 1t has maintained
with firmness the dignity of the Office of the
executive; has recovered millions of acres of
the public domain, and protected the hum
best settler from the rapacity of grasping
corporations; has revived respect for law,
restored confidence In our institutions, and
brought economy and integrity to all the
functions of government. Already navy is
fast being created, of which we may feel
justly proud, and the great heart of the coun-
ty throbs BEAUTIFULLY as we gradually 90 back
to the simple and honest methods of the "a
theirs of the republic.
Third. That whilst the Democratic party in
Maryland believes In an upright and efficient
civil service In the administration of govern
ment, 1t is nevertheless opposed 10 o system
of life tenure and to civil pension list and
whilst it upholds the President of the United
States IN efforts to effect an honest and COM
peient civil service, still 1t believes that the
service should be composed of officers and
employees who are not antagonistic to the
success OF the administration under which
they serve, but are In sympathy with ii; whose
hearts are In their work, and who believe that
upon the continued and just success of the
Democratic party rest the safety and security
of republican institutions and the liberties Of
the people.
Fourth. That we cordially commend our
Democratic representatives in Congress from
this State for their earnest effort to reduce
taxation and we reaff1rm the national demo-
cratic platform of 1884 10 demanding q revi.
sion of the tariff, In spirit of fairness TO all
u
injure no domestic industry. but legitimately
protect its healthy growth and be regardful OF
the labor and capital involved 10 1t.
Fifth. That we urge upon the Congress of
the United States the speedy passage of q
more stringent law against the importation
of foreign paupers, criminals and contract
labor, that the prosperity of the country may
not be retarded, Its morals corrupted and the
honest wage.worker injured In bis pursuit.
Sixth. That Acknowledgements are due and
are cordially extended to Henry Lloyd, the
Governor, and to the other chief officers of
the State, for their honest, faithful and eco
nomical administration of its affairs.
Seventh. That the Democratic party, mind
fnl of its fulfilled pledges to wage earners to
place upon the statute-books of the State
laws which would protect their health, their
personal safety and welfare, and guarantee to
them al equal right with owners Of capital
to make peaceable combinations for their own
protection, renews Its pledges to embody In
the organic law, upon revision of the pres
ent constitution, their right to peacefully as.
semble and organize for their own protection,
and now promises to enact such further laws
as time and experience may demonstrate to
be for their welfare and happiness.
Eighth. That the Democratic party, recog-
nizing that portions Of the present election
laws of the State have been upon the statute
books for more than twenty-five years, and
are more or less Intellectual to accomplish at
the present day absolutely fair elections in
districts whose population is dense and shifl-
ing, and ever foremost In protecting the pu-
rity of the ballot-box and the ssnctity of cleo
tons, hereby pledges that 1t will earnestly
endeavor, at the coming session of the Gene
raj Assembly, to have placed upon the stat
ute books an election law which will embrace
not only all the beneficial provisions of the
Tildeu act, but will embody also all those
additional safeguards TO guarantee the purity
of elections which experience has taught
should be incorporated into it and this con-
vention selects Charles ]. NJ. Gwinn, James
McSherry, James Alfred Pearce, Henry D.
Farnandis and James Revell to prepare such
an act and submit 1t to the next session of
the Legislature for Its action.
Ninth. That inasmuch as the provisions of
the present constitution, in providing for
system of taxation and of registration, re-
quire that they should be respectively uni
form In their operation throughout the State,
1t Is the sense of this convention that the
present laws of registration and Of taxation
are as nearly complete and accurate as they
can be made under the present organic law,
and the Democratic party now engages that
In revision of the constitution IL will use It's
best efforts to have embraced within its pro-
visions the requirement of more thorough
system oftaxation, and OF an annual registra-
ton of voters in cities whose inhabitants
number ten thousand and upwards.